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49ers’ GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan gearing up for a pre-Super Bowl practice

The San Francisco 49ers defense parted ways with a plethora of talented players this offseason, but did manage to add an imposing physical specimen to their defensive line by selecting Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Yet, was Williams’ underwhelming final year in college potentially foreshadowing a disappointing 2025 for the 49ers rookie?

49ers Rookie Mykel Williams Named a Player Who Could Disappoint in 2025

Defensive coordinator Robert Salah is set to have his hands full with the departures of Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw, and Charvarious Ward from last season. Fortunately, the addition of a toolsy prospect like Mykel Williams was enough to get many Niner fans excited about the retooled defense.

Well, Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report is still a bit skeptical about Williams making a huge instant impact in 2025 and consequently named him a player who could disappoint in his rookie season.

Sobleski wrote, “The idea of Mykel Williams is far more intriguing than the actual player. Entering last season, Williams was a darkhorse candidate to emerge as the No. 1 overall pick, as another former Georgia Bulldog in Travon Walker did three years earlier. Williams never quite reached that level, with the San Francisco 49ers eventually selecting him with this year’s 11th overall draft pick.”

Williams’ 21 total tackles and five sacks in 2024 were a far cry from the dominant numbers football fans saw from Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter last season, but there are a couple of reasons why the stats didn’t match the impressive physical profile of the Georgia product.

Sobleski added, “Williams switch from an interior defender to full-time edge defender was a driving force behind the lofty projection. It happened to a degree, though the defensive lineman still found himself lined up in an 4i (inside shoulder of the offensive tackle) quite often. His sack numbers didn’t dramatically increase, either. To be fair, Williams dealt with a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in Georgia’s first game of the 2025 campaign.”

Some may scoff at the idea of using an injury to excuse poor production, but I have a hard time holding a player battling through a significant injury to help his team compete for a national title against him.

Sobleski concluded, “The opportunity to play opposite Nick Bosa certainly helps. Williams can be an excellent run defender at the onset of his professional career. But the 20-year-old will need time to hone his craft for a year or two before he becomes the pass-rusher that San Francisco hopes he can be.”

How Will this 49ers Defense Perform After Major Departures this Offseason?

Williams’ rookie contributions will simply be a piece of the 49ers defensive puzzle in 2025.

The 49ers are fortunate to have a familiar face return to the role of defensive coordinator with Salah back in San Francisco, which should help his message resonate with younger players due to his familiarity with star LB Fred Warner.

Williams should have a positive impact as a run defender early in his career, which is a place where the Niners had their struggles in 2024.

If Williams proves to be better than his injured tape from last season as a pass rusher, then this 49ers defense could be quite formidable in 2025.

Derek Tate covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Heavy.com from 2022 to 2023. His bylines include Pro Football Network, The Athletic, Dr. Roto, Fantasy Focused and NewsNet. More about Derek Tate

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